which law attorney do i higher if i need my spouse to get to usa

by Carmela Hoeger Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago 9 min read

Can I bring an attorney to my spouse's immigration interview?

For US citizens who live abroad — 11 to 17 months. For green card holders who live in the US — 29 to 38 months. For green card holders who live abroad — 23 to 32 months. Due to the lengthy wait times that are seen with obtaining a green card for a spouse, it is extremely important for applicants to begin the application as soon as possible.

How to bring your spouse to the United States?

Mar 10, 2022 · Find a Lawyer and Affordable Legal Aid. Learn what questions to ask when choosing a lawyer. And find organizations that give free legal advice and may help you find a free or low-cost attorney. What to Look for in a Lawyer. Before looking for an attorney, decide what kind you need. Common fields include: Criminal law. Family law. Landlords and ...

Do I need a power of attorney for my spouse?

Do I need a family law attorney to get a divorce?

What is the fastest way to bring your spouse to USA?

Historically, family reunification has been the easiest and fastest way of bringing your loved ones to the United States.

How can I apply for my husband to come to USA?

If you are a U.S. citizen, once you file Form I-130, your spouse is eligible to apply for a nonimmigrant K-3 visa. This will entitle him or her to come to the United States to live and work while the visa petition is pending. To petition for this benefit, file Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e).Feb 2, 2018

Can my foreign spouse travel to the US?

It is absolutely possible for a foreign spouse to visit their partner in the United States while awaiting their green card application. If you are a foreign spouse, you may apply to enter the United States via a tourist visa if you have a pending I-130 petition, and wish to go back to your home country after the visit.

How long does it take to bring spouse to USA?

Visa processing usually takes around 3-5 months. If you are a permanent resident, you must wait for a visa to become available for your spouse, based on their priority date. This can vary depending on the spouse's home country, but the typical time is around 24 months.Jun 1, 2021

How long does it take to bring spouse to USA 2021?

Average time - Between five and 14.5 months to get a Form I-130 petition (Petition for Alien Relative) approved by USCIS as of early 2022; another six to 11 months or longer to get an immigrant visa to come to the United States.

How long does it take to bring spouse to USA 2020?

Total Processing Time for a Spouse Green Card

As long as there are no delays or complicating factors: A spouse of a permanent resident's immigration processing time is about 24 to 36 months on average from start to finish. A spouse of a U.S. citizen's Green Card processing time today averages about 12-18 months.Sep 30, 2021

What is the K2 visa?

What is a K2 Visa? A K2 Visa will allow the unmarried children, who are under the age of 21, of K1 Fiancé Visa holders to enter the US with them. This visa is non-immigrant and therefore will not grant the holder an immigration status, and is based upon the parent's K1 Visa.

How long does it take to bring spouse to USA 2022?

7 to 24 months

Spousal Sponsorship I-130 Processing Time 2022

It will usually take anywhere from 7 to 24 months for USCIS to process and approve a spousal sponsorship visa. It can take an additional 6 to 10 months to get an immigrant visa to the US.

What happens when a U.S. citizen marries a non U.S. citizen?

A fiancé (K-1) visa grants permission to a non-U.S. citizen who is engaged to marry a U.S. citizen to enter the United States for the purpose of getting married. In order for your fiancé to get a K-1 visa, you will need to file a petition on Form I-129F with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

How much income do I need to sponsor my spouse in USA?

The most common minimum annual income required to sponsor a spouse or family member for a green card is $22,887. This assumes that the sponsor — the U.S. citizen or current green card holder — is not in active military duty and is sponsoring only one relative.Mar 1, 2022

How much does it cost to bring your spouse to USA?

If the case is approved, the foreign spouse receives a visa stamp in his or her passport that allows for travel to the United States. At this point you'll need to pay the $220 Immigrant Fee to USCIS online, ideally after you've picked up your visa but before you depart for the United States.

Which is faster fiance visa or spouse?

If the goal is for the couple to be together in the U.S. as soon as possible, the K-1 visa is most likely the fast path. From the date of filing to the date of admission to the U.S., it will take approximately 5-10 months on a K-1 fiancé visa. On the other hand, the marriage visa may take 10-16 months.Sep 7, 2021

What is an immigration attorney?

An experienced immigration attorney can evaluate the circumstances of your particular case and provide expert advice as to the method most favorable to you, or the attorney can help facilitate the entire process. If your case involves any special circumstances, or you just need help dealing with the immigration bureaucracy, a lawyer may be worth the cost.

Can a spouse get a green card if they are married?

The process is complex and requires navigation of the narrow confines of the law and the immigration bureaucracy. Contrary to the belief of many U.S. citizens in this situation, your spouse or fiancé, and any of his or her children, are not automatically guaranteed a green card based on marriage to a U.S. citizen.

Can a K-3 spouse marry a K-4?

The minor, unmarried child of a K-3 spouse may be granted K-4 status to enter the United States and attend the wedding. However, USCIS does not provide the same derivative benefits as with the K-2 visa; a K-4 beneficiary risks "aging-out" (losing eligibility for the green card) if he or she turns 21 before adjustment of status takes place. In addition, if the K-4 applicant is not the biological child of the U.S. citizen, but a stepchild, the qualifying marriage must have occurred before the child turns 18 instead of 21. For these reasons, if you haven't yet married, the fiancé visa may be the safest way to ensure that an older child is permitted to obtain permanent residency.

What is a K-1 visa?

The K-1 nonimmigrant visa permits the foreign citizen to enter the U.S. specifically for the purpose of marriage, with the option of applying to adjust status in the U.S. after the marriage. In order to qualify for the K-1 visa:

How long does it take to get a visa for a spouse?

Spouses and family members who are considered to be in the immediate relative category usually obtain their visas within 5-12 months of submitting their applications. Those in the family preference category will experience a longer wait as it can take anywhere from 6 months to 6 years to obtain their visas.

What is family preference immigrant?

The family preference immigrants category is for those in your family who are not considered immediate relatives. It also includes married children and adult children who are 21 or older.

How long does it take to get a green card?

The length of time it takes to obtain a green card for your spouse depends on your citizenship status as well as where you are currently living. Generally speaking, the following time tables apply: 1 For US citizens who reside in the US — 10 to 13 months 2 For US citizens who live abroad — 11 to 17 months 3 For green card holders who live in the US — 29 to 38 months 4 For green card holders who live abroad — 23 to 32 months

How long does it take to get a green card for a family member?

For those of you who are already a U.S. citizen, this process is usually pretty quick and will only take up to a year for your family members to receive their visas or green cards. The process does take longer for permanent residents, and unfortunately their spouse and relatives are not guaranteed visas or green cards.

What is a non-immediate relative?

USCIS designates non-immediate relatives in the following four categories: First preference (F1) – Unmarried sons and daughters, 21 years of age and older, of U.S. citizens. Unlike the petition for the immediate relative, visas are not guaranteed for family preference immigrants.

What is the third preference?

Third preference (F3) – Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. Fourth preference (F4) – brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens (if the U.S. citizen is 21 years of age and older) Unlike the petition for the immediate relative, visas are not guaranteed for family preference immigrants. Therefore, your relative will have to wait ...

What is an individual lawyer?

Individual lawyers (also called attorneys) are experts in different areas of the law. Some attorneys specialize in a certain field of law, such as business, civil, criminal, or juvenile law. You will need to determine which type of attorney is right for your legal situation.

How long does bankruptcy stay on your credit report?

Keep in mind, Chapter 7 bankruptcy information stays on your credit report for 10 years. This can make it hard to get credit, buy a home, receive life insurance, or get a job. Learn more about bankruptcy, and other options for dealing with debt .

Do lawyers have power?

Lawyers do not have a lot of power in such circumstances. But at least the lawyer might have access to inside inquiry lines, where they (and only they) can ask about delayed or problematic cases. Even lawyers frequently have trouble getting answers to such inquiries, but it's often worth a try.

What can an immigration attorney do?

An immigration attorney can help the employer and worker decide which visa best suits the employer's needs and the worker's qualifications. Similar issues might come up in family-based or other types of visa situations.

Do not sell personal information?

Do Not Sell My Personal Information. You are not required to have a lawyer when applying for an immigrant visa or green card in the United States or overseas. If you have a straightforward case, are clearly eligible for the benefit you seek, and have no record of crimes or negative run-ins with immigration authorities, ...

What an Immigration Lawyer Can Do for You

If you're just not sure exactly how to fill out the application form (the N-400 Application for Naturalization ), what documents you need, or whether you meet the good moral character and other eligibility requirements in the first place, an immigration lawyer will help you with all that.

What an Immigration Lawyer Can't Do for You

If you hire an immigration lawyer, you can't expect to sit back and watch the lawyer do everything. First, you have to provide all the information about yourself necessary for the lawyer to fill out the form, answer the lawyer's questions about things that may have happened in your past, and gather documents that the lawyer asks you for.

Your Decision Whether to Hire an Immigration Lawyer

Whether it's worth it to hire a lawyer to help you with your citizenship application is mostly a question of how much you think you need the help, how much money the lawyer wants, and how much you're willing to spend. You might try calling several different immigration lawyers in your area to see how much they charge.

What happens if you don't have a power of attorney?

In the event your spouse does not have a power of attorney, the process to have the necessary authority is long, expensive and arduous.

What does a power of attorney do?

A power of attorney will grant the spouse the authority to make decisions in the event the other spouse is unable to. In the event one spouse becomes incapacitated in some form or another via accident, aging or terminal illness, bills are still able to be paid from joint accounts.

Can you represent yourself in divorce?

Although you might feel like you can represent yourself in your divorce, when one side has an attorney and the other doesn't, it often results in the unrepresented party walking away without a fair deal. Do yourself a favor, hire an attorney and level the playing field.

Can a divorce be settled on your own?

Although divorce is one of the most complex and emotional legal processes in family law, not all couples require in-depth court assistance to end their marriage. If you and your spouse are on the same page about what you want for your family, you may be able to negotiate a divorce settlement on your own.

What to talk about when you divorce your spouse?

When you and your spouse decide to divorce, if you can communicate, try to talk about each of your ideal outcomes for child custody, visitation, child support, property division, and alimony.

Is divorce pleasant?

Do yourself a favor, hire an attorney and level the playing field. Although no divorce is pleasant, some are outright unbearable, especially if the other party in your case is hiding assets, destroying property, wasting marital funds, or threatening you with physical or financial ruin for filing for divorce.

What is collaborative practice in divorce?

While most attorneys are willing to utilize alternative divorce solutions, like mediation, some are trying a new divorce method called "collaborative practice," which is where the clients and lawyers agree, in advance, not to litigate in court.

Why is it important to have a lawyer for divorce?

It is important in divorce cases for an individual to have a family lawyer representing them to ensure their rights are protected. A lawyer can advise an individual what they may be entitled to in their state, as laws vary by state. Issues may include alimony and child support.

Can a lawyer work in a law firm?

Lawyers can work in a law firm with other lawyers, with a partner, or practice by themselves in a solo practice. In most cases, a lawyer will be chosen based on the type of case, or practice area, and the location of the case. Lawyers can provide a wide range of services to their clients. Some lawyers handle many different types of cases.

What is a lawyer?

A lawyer is an individual who is licensed to practice law in a state. Lawyers are also known as attorneys or an attorney at law. Some lawyers are licensed in multiple states. Some lawyers are admitted to practice at the Federal level as well.

What does it mean to practice law?

“Practicing law” can mean many things, including drafting legal documents, representing a client in court, and/or providing legal advice to a client.

What is criminal law?

Criminal law is the body of laws that pertain to crimes. Crimes are actions or behaviors prohibited by state or federal laws. Crimes are punishable by fines, probation, and/or imprisonment. Usually, crimes are categorized as misdemeanors or felonies.

Can a guilty plea affect immigration status?

Some guilty pleas, even to misdemeanor charges, can have long-term consequences. A guilty plea can also affect immigration status or lead to deportation of a non-citizen. It is important to remember that, in most cases, when an individual cannot afford a criminal lawyer, the court will appoint one to represent them.

What is civil matter?

Civil matters include contract disputes between businesses, real estate, and personal transactions. Unlike criminal cases, there is no determination of guilt or innocence. Usually, the parties may only recover monetary damages, including punitive damages in some cases.